Buying time or arresting development? The dilemma of administering hormone blockers in trans children and adolescents

Porto Biomed J. 2017 Sep-Oct;2(5):153-156. doi: 10.1016/j.pbj.2017.06.001. Epub 2017 Jul 5.

Abstract

In recent years, the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues in adolescents with gender dysphoria (GD) to suppress puberty has been adopted by an increasing number of gender clinics, generating controversial debate. This short essay provides an overview of the difficulties associated with this heterogeneous group of adolescents and discusses arguments for and against the suspension of puberty. Further, it reviews the main follow-up studies conducted in some of the world's largest clinical centres for gender-variant children and adolescents.

Keywords: Gender dysphoria; GnRH analogues; Hormone blockers; Puberty; Transgender.